What's Normal Isn't Normal
Marking the anniversary of Aaron Bushnell's death
On February 25, 2024, Aaron Bushnell set himself on fire as a protest against the war on Gaza. His act, along with other self-immolations that were less covered by the news, was shattering. I wrote about it a few days after his death and wanted to share it with you again today.
There Are Many Things Better Than Sliced Bread
Human teeth aren’t sharp like a coyote’s and we don’t have the python's ability to digest animals whole, so we have devised methods of processing. We harvest and kill, chop and press, boil and fry. Processing, cooking, or otherwise preparing food to the point that it is digestible takes time, knowledge, a place to do it and of course, a supply of food.
I’ll be reading a shortened version of this essay when "machinemachine, a critique on the trauma of labor under capitalism," hosts an opening reception at the Red Floor Gallery (41 W Southern Ave, Tempe) on Saturday, February 22 from 6-10p. If you’re local, I hope you can make it.
In the essay I share a quote from Sweetness and Power: The Place of Sugar in Modern History by Sidney Mintz that I’ll leave you with: “One cannot simply assume that everyone has an infinite desire for sweetness, any more than one can assume the same about a desire for comfort or wealth or power.”
The Good Enough Weekly comes out on Fridays, alternating essays, interviews, and shorter updates. I also take on freelance editing and writing projects. Reach out if you’re looking for an editor.